-
Mpumalanga Health MEC Sasekani Manzini introduces Dr Shongwe to the Matsulu community in Mpumalanga.
The Mpumalanga Health Department has deployed 25 permanent medical doctors to clinics in its quest to strengthen the primary health care service in rural areas.
The doctors have been deployed to community health centres in Matsulu, Msogwaba and Mbombela.
Provincial Health MEC Sasekani Manzini says this will minimise unnecessary hospital referrals and also improve primary healthcare services in the rural areas.
“And most of them, they are Cuban doctors trained. So, what is key on those Cubans is that they were trained in the main on primary health care. So we believe that, that would be a very good investment when you take them back to the clinic where we are saying in preparation for the National Health Insurance, we must make sure that preventative measures and treatment at the level of a primary health care, that’s what we’re strengthening and making sure that we improve in terms of making sure that our people no longer go to hospital because they are treated there, they are screened earlier and when they need treatment, they get treatment as early as possible in the comfort of the vicinity where they are coming from.”
MEC Sasekani Manzini today,introduced two doctors at Matsulu & Msogwaba Community Health Centres outside Mbombela.There is Dr. Sambo stationed at Matsulu CHC, & Dr. Shongwe placed @ Msogwaba CHC. pic.twitter.com/8f6Mjrbtq7
— Mpumalanga Health (@MpuHealth1) January 26, 2026
Meanwhile, the residents of Matsulu have expressed satisfaction over the deployment of a doctor in the area. They, however, raised concerns about the lack of resources and staff.
“Bringing the doctor here, it will make our lives easier. We appreciate it very much. The other thing that we are crying for, this clinic is too small for Matsulu. They must make sure that they extend it or else they look for another place and build a big clinic for us,” says one of the residents.
Another resident says, “The challenge is we don’t have a lot of nurses here, shortage of nurses. Also, the resources, some days you come in, here and there’s a shortage of pills. They don’t have enough resources. So, I think, we need enough resources in terms of medication being enough.”
VIDEO | The medical doctors are deployed to clinics operating for 24 hours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ZfzuFOH50
